Month: November 2016

Eventually, it sure looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel. The Senate on Wednesday had ordered the Nigerian
Communication Commission (NCC) to immediately halt its
planned hike in data tariff. The senate also mandated the
House Committee on Communication to carry out through
oversight on the process. The Senate further stressed that Nigerians be carried along in subsequent decisions.

Describing it as a height of irresponsibility, the Senate as also captured in the Senate President Bukola Saraki’s official Facebook account,stated the #CtteeCommunications are to investigate the allegations of failure of the service providers.

The message of the Senate President reads:

“…At a time when the cost of living has gone up for all Nigerians, due to inflation being at 18.3%, the NCC’s actions have implicitly mandated the service providers to increase their costs to maintain their profits. This is unacceptable.
I have seen the power of the internet — and how it serves to give a voice to the voiceless, and a platform for millions to air their views. This is why the Senate will continue to maintain that access to the internet remains affordable for all Nigerians.

On this note, the Senate has resolved to:
– Halt the new tariff proposal by the NCC;
– Mandate the Senate Committee on Communications to conduct thorough oversight on the process that brought it about; and
– Ensure that Nigerians are always carried along when such
processes are considered.”

Oil Prices in the international Market on Wednesday soared more than 10 percent to over $50 per barrel. This new price happens to be its highest so far. It was gathered that the collective agreement of some of the world’s largest producers to cut down production for the first time since 2008 in a bid to support the prices was instrumental to the sudden rise witnessed.

The member-countries of The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which accounts for one-third of global oil supply, agreed to cut production from January by around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), or over 3 percent,to 32.5 million bpd. The cut will put production at the low end of a preliminary agreement struck in Algiers earlier in September, and will in turn reduce output of barrels per day (bpd).

Saudi Arabia, the group’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia has offered to take the lion’s share of cuts. She would reduce her output by almost 500,000 bpd to enable the projected effects on the General oil price. Other country that had also agreed to reduce large amount of output include Iraq, OPEC’s second largest producer that wasn’t initially pleased with the plan will reduce output by 200,000 bpd.

Amazingly, Russia (Non-OPEC member) which had also long resisted cutting of output and had pushed its production to new record highs recently have also agreed to cut output by 300,000 bpd. We hope to see more of the increase of these essential commodity as suppliers are beginning to see to terms.

Petroleum is mostly used,by volume for the production of fuel oil and gasoline. It is an essential commodity for mechanised production.

On Wednesday, 30th November, there was a rowdy session at the Senate plenary following an official decamping of a serving PDP Senator, Yele Omogunwa representing Ondo South . The Senator wrote a letter of notice to the leadership of the Parliament that he had dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

The development led to all the PDP senators led by the Minority Leader, Godwill Kpabio, staging an amazing walk out from the chambers.

It was Soon after Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had read the letter of defection from Senator Omogunwa that the Senate Minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio challenged it with a point of order. He stated that the parliament should not encourage such. political rascality. Adding that the seat belongs to PDP and should be declared vacant.

The Senate President however ruled Akpabio out of order before Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West rose to speak on the same issue in the same order and he was duely recognized by Saraki.

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP, Delta North then pointed out order 43. Which poked hole in the recognition of Melaye on the same issue when another senator had already been ruled out of it’s order.he added that it was absolutely not necessary.

When efforts by Senator Akpabio to speak again proved abortive, he then led his colleagues (other PDP Senators) out of the chambers. This led to a breakdown in Plenary activities as almost all the bills slated for discussion were sponsored by PDP members.

Due to this development, the Senate President was forced to
Announce Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Labour Party, Delta Central to step in as Minority leader and he immediately took over the seat of Akpabio.

The recent decision by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is beginning to generate reactions from telecomm service users across the country. many had claimed it to be a very rash decision in a challenging time like this. The Nigerian terrain today has seen almost every activity been channeled through the famous social media. This in turn has resulted to a very high demand of mobile data subscription. Inadvertedly, and also for the raise to secure and protect their customers, the networks or service providers in the country have been considerate by dropping the prices of their various data plans. But it looks as if all the data wars, awoofs and the smart prices we have been enjoying from the beginning ofr this year is about to come to an end.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed mobile telephone operators in the country to jerk up the prices of their respective data tariffs with effect from December 1, 2016. This seems not to be pleasing to the ears of internet customers at all. This simply means business unusual.

The President of the National Association of Telecoms Consumers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), Deolu Ogunbanjo, has said that the directive of the regulator will be counterproductive since many businesses in Nigeria at the moment depends on the internet to thrive.

“Many businesses depend on the internet as an enabler but with an increase in data tariffs, it will affect the pockets of consumers and hinder further internet penetration in the country,” he said.

In the light of this, service providers has been stylishly exonerating themselves from the action by publicly giving prior information to their customers outrightly stating the NCC’s plight. For example, MTN sent messages to its customers announcing that there would be an increase in its data tariffs on December 1.

“Dear customer, please be informed that from December 1, some MTN data tariffs
will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC to operators,” The text message read.

Certainly, the NCC has the rights and backing to make reviews on policies and activities of the service providers in Nigeria. This they have been doing amazingly well so far. But this data tariff jerk up is one that seriously needs to be looked into. As we await a cogent reason for the directives from the NCC, we sincerely hope this decision be taught twice before enactment. If for nothing, but for the safety of our Small scale businesses as the Government of the day had preached to us to venture. In contrast, we know of countries that enjoy maximum free internet access and we wish for a replica in our Nigeria also.

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges requirements of excellence (Songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (Sales and popularity).

First of all, the aim is not to attack anyone. This is done to ameliorate the problem we presently face in the society. It is to make us see truth in our actions. To be frank, let’s stop deceiving ourselves with that ‘E go better’ mantra. How will it get better when our actions, attitude and behavior makes it worse? From the Common man on the street to the politician in the Office, we are all (knowingly or unknowingly) contributing to the executive process of destruction as designed.

That aside, the cotton no longer fits Omoye, she is already naked at the market square — Things have fallen apart. And to bring back the Good old days, all hands must be on deck. The nation is drowning and it hasn’t been rewarding for us as shareholders. We’ve all been stakeholders in this spoil, we therefore must begin to Plan for a Brighter Rewarding Future (in Fashola’s Words).

They say your Sunday is better predicted from the outcome of your Saturday. Nigeria at the moment is witnessing an Unfortunate Saturday, should we begin to predict a similar Sunday? To solve this, one question we need to begin to ask ourselves is—what does tomorrow holds for us? Hmmn… Wait! Let’s talk a sharp look at ~Our Yesterday.